She grinned. “It has a safety. It’s only going to go off if I want it to go off. Next to Gus, that piece of hardware is my best friend.”
“US-huh.”
They ate in silence for a few minutes. Lizzie broke the quiet spell when she asked, “Have you ever been to Las Vegas?”
“Once, and once was enough. They don’t have clocks in Vegas. I need clocks. No one sleeps in Vegas. They go twenty-four/seven. I need to sleep. The truth is, I work too damn hard for my money to piss it away on a craps table or slot machine. I lost a hundred dollars the time I was there. Gambling is such a waste of time and energy. Have you been?”
“Oh, yes, many times. I like the excitement, the shows, and meeting new people. I always win. I’m partial to poker. My friends call me the double-down queen when I play blackjack. As a matter of fact, several friends of mine are coming to visit tomorrow. They live year-round in Vegas. They’re showgirls. There’s another advantage to living in Vegas, and that’s no state income tax.”
“No kidding.”
Lizzie looked at him over the top of her bottle of Beck’s. “No kidding.”
“Vegas really is an exciting city,” Lizzie continued. She wondered why her voice sounded so defensive. Nathan looked like he was wondering the same thing.
“How long are your friends staying, Aggie?”
“I’m not sure. Until they get sick of me, I guess, or until they get bored with the quiet life here in Atlanta. They’re used to being up all night and sleeping during the day. They’ll have to readjust to normal living, so that’s going to take a few days. Do you know any eligible bachelors?”
“A few.”
“That’s nice. Maybe we can have a party or a barbecue.”
“Let’s talk about it, Aggie.”
Lizzie watched as Nathan closed his cartons, gathered up his napkins and empty beer bottle.
“Nathan, that might not be a good idea. You could get hurt. Look what happened today. If you hang out with me, they’ll go after you. I know you’re a big boy, and you can look out for yourself, but you don’t know the mind-set of the men we’re dealing with here.”
“Tell me about it. Two heads are better than one. You want to talk with the bugs in place? I’m sure the cellophane is working, but you can never be a hundred percent sure of anything in this life.”
“Why not? They know I’m on to them. All I have are my own suspicions and Tom’s suspicions. I’m not clear in my own head how Tom was involved with all of this. My gut is telling me he wasn’t dirty, but my gut is also telling me he knew what was going on and kept quiet. That’s the part I’m having trouble with.”
“Have you given any thought to going to the chief? You’ve got me on your side now. When a big newspaper takes on something like this, everyone sits up and takes notice. Now, let’s sit here and talk and make a plan.” The words were no sooner out of his mouth than Nathan’s beeper went off. He checked the number, pulled out his cell phone to make a call.
“Sorry, Aggie, I gotta run. There’s been an accident on the interstate with a chemical spill. Duty calls. I have to use your car again. I’ll drop it off later.” He blew her an airy kiss before he galloped out of the room, Alice nipping at his heels.
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Chapter Six
The scent of fresh-brewed coffee permeated police headquarters as Dutch Davis stomped his way to the chief’s office. He knew eyes were boring into his back and that the other detectives were mumbling and muttering among themselves. As far as he was concerned, those doing the muttering and mumbling were a bunch of wusses.
He felt clumsy and awkward as he lumbered along. His arm in a blue canvas sling made walking a chore, as he was used to swinging his big arms for balance.
Dutch drew in a deep breath before he opened the door to the chief’s office. He tried to look affable when he offered up a salute of sorts.
“Close the door, Davis, and park it,” Chief Shay barked. The detective inched himself onto the straight-backed chair. He looked at the chief expectantly. If the chief wanted to, he could kick his ass all the way to the Mason-Dixon line. To Dutch, it looked like he was contemplating the move.
“You want to explain that,” the chief said, pointing to the soft blue sling on Dutch’s arm.
Dutch hadn’t expected such a cold hard voice. He struggled to remain affable. “Shoulda zigged when I shoulda zagged. No big deal, Chief.”
“That’s not the way I heard it, Davis. I will not tolerate any brawling among my officers, especially with my female officers. This is the second time we’re having a discussion on brawling. You’re going on report, and if it happens again, we won’t be talking. Are we clear, Detective Davis?”
“Understood, Chief.”
“Good. Now take your sorry ass over to the motor pool and catch up on the paperwork. You don’t go back on the street till I make a determination. Physicals are one month from today. You might want to think about eating a lot of lettuce and maybe some carrots until then.”
“Yes, sir.” Dutch had to grasp the desk to bring himself to his feet. He swiveled and almost fell. His mean little eyes got meaner as he stomped out of the office. He purposely refused to make eye contact with any of the detectives on the floor. It wasn’t hard because he was not a popular member of the force.
Dutch was outside, on his way to the motor pool, when Joe Sonders whistled to get his attention. “Hey, Dutch, hold on a minute. Where are you going?” he asked, leading the big detective to the side and out of earshot of other officers who were coming and going. “What did the chief say?”
“He said I should catch up on paperwork at the motor pool. Like I can write. I’ll be there till hell freezes over pecking away with two fingers on my left hand,” Dutch said, hatred ringing in his voice. “That bitch has to pay for this. A fracture is a fracture, hairline or not. She pays. You hear me, Joe, she pays!”
“Keep it up and everyone else within a five-mile radius will hear you. What you need to do right now is lie low and keep quiet. I just checked at the hospital, and old Will isn’t doing so good this morning. A brother from somewhere showed up and wants to pull the plug. They’re waiting for another brother from somewhere else before they make a decision. Looks to me like we’re going to have to go to a funeral.”
“That’s what happens when you hit a truck head-on. Here today, gone tomorrow. We need to call a meeting. I can just see that bitch doing an inventory. Will was getting a little too nervous to suit me. I’m beginning to wonder if half the crap old Will was feeding us about the chief being suspicious was true. I think he just wanted to call it quits.”
Joe Sonders pulled his sunglasses out of his pocket. He held them up to the light to see if he needed to polish them. Satisfied that they were clean enough, he put them on. He lowered his voice to a hiss. “I think she found the bugs. She went to visit Tom’s parents. She’s on to us. I told you not to trust Madsen. First he was in, then he was out, then he couldn’t make up his damn mind. He knew. Guys tend to share crap like that when they get all gooey at sleepy-time. She knows, Dutch.”
“Yeah, well knowing and proving it are two different things. The dog is her Achilles’ heel. The professor looks nerdy enough to scare. Work on him.”
“The professor is gone. School’s out. We checked him out last night. He’s probably in some third-world country teaching savages how to read and write. That’s what guys like him do in the summer. He’s a dead issue, Dutch.”
Dutch looked at his partner. He was lean and fit, with not an ounce of fat on him. He ran ten miles every morning, lifted weights, and was a vegetarian. His six-foot, 180-pound frame always looked good in his custom suits. He had a different one for every day of the week. His wife got 30 percent off at Nordstrom, where she worked. He had good skin and healthy-looking hair. He looked like a cop’s cop. No one on the force liked him either. Jealousy, Dutch decided.
“Then go after Hawk.”
“The guy’s a reporter, Dutch! Li
sten, I have to go. I’m partnering with Alan Brady until you’re back in harness.”
Dutch laughed. “That guy will shoot himself in the foot yet. Have a nice day.”
Lizzie made her way down the quiet hall to the nurses’ station. She hadn’t meant to go to the hospital, but there she was. She waited patiently until the nurse looked up from the chart where she was making entries. Lizzie flashed her sister’s badge. “Detective Jade.”
The nurse shook her head. “Mr. Fargo’s brother is in with him now. You can’t question him.”
“That’s okay. I just wanted…to…to see him.”
“Let me talk to the brother, Detective.”
Why was she there? She didn’t know.
Minutes later, a short, squat man walked toward her. He held out his hand. “I’m Will’s brother, Daniel, Detective.”
“I’m sorry about Will. I really didn’t know him all that well. I just wanted to stop by and…and…”
Daniel nodded solemnly. “I understand. I’m waiting for Will’s parish priest to arrive. I’ve been here all night,” he said wearily. “There’s nothing more that can be done for Will. During the night he tried to tell me something, but I don’t know what it was he was trying to say. I don’t know why I say this, but it seemed important to him. I don’t understand police matters. I sell air-conditioning filters. There’s nothing important in that. I could sense my brother’s urgency. He knows he’s dying. For all I know he was trying to tell me to pull the plug. I can’t do that. I know my other brother won’t be able to do that either.”
“I really am sorry, Mr. Fargo. If…if Will rallies, tell him I stopped by.” Lizzie handed him one of Aggie’s cards.
Daniel Fargo stared at the card, his brow furrowed. “Agnes Jade, Agnes Jade, Agnes Jade,” he said over and over. “I’m not sure, Detective, but I think that’s what Will was trying to say. I can’t be certain, but it sure did sound like your name. I know that only family members are allowed in ICU but at this point, I don’t think it matters. Come with me. If Will wanted to see you, we’ll know soon enough.”
Lizzie followed Daniel to his brother’s unit and stepped inside. She felt faint at the whirring sounds coming from the machines keeping Will alive. He looked even more skeletal than he did in the pictures Aggie had given her. She looked around, memorizing the sight, the sound, the smell, so she could relay it to Aggie later.
“Say something to him, Detective. Get close to his ear and touch his arm. When I did that, he responded to me.”
The fine hairs on the back of Lizzie’s neck stood on end as she obeyed Daniel’s instructions. Will’s eyes slid open but couldn’t focus. “It’s me, Will, Aggie Jade.” She leaned closer, hating the smell of death that swirled around the man in the hospital bed. The words were garbled at best, but she was able to make out her name. She turned her head to talk into his ear. “Was it Dutch? Did he set us up, Will? Did you help steal the drugs? I’m trying to understand what you’re saying. Try harder, Will. Please. Try to make it right before…before…try, Will. Please.”
He did try. Valiantly, but she was only able to understand the word yes, the other words too garbled to understand. Will’s left arm flailed the air in his distress. Lizzie watched as he struggled to say the word again. As near as she could tell, it sounded like cards or lard, maybe even the word hard. The brother Daniel shook his head to show he didn’t understand it either.
Seconds later, she heard the high-pitched sound and knew Will Fargo had flat-lined. She moved to the side, pulled Daniel toward her, then outside into the corridor, as nurses and doctors barreled into the room.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Fargo.”
Daniel Fargo nodded, his eyes on the door leading to his brother’s room. “Did you understand what Will was saying? Was it helpful to you? Whatever it was he was trying to tell you must have been important to him.”
Lizzie’s mind raced. “Yes. It had to do with police business. I’ll say a prayer for your brother. If there’s anything I can do, call me.”
“I’m glad you came, Detective. It was important to my brother for some reason. I hope he was able to help you. I wish we had been closer. Do you think people always think things like that at a time like this?” he fretted.
“Yes, Mr. Fargo, I do think most people think like that. Take care.”
Lizzie rode down in the elevator. She breathed through her mouth, hoping to drive away the smell of death in her nostrils. She ran through the lobby and outside. Halfway to the parking lot she realized it was raining again. She ran faster, her head down. She felt the stiff arm, felt herself whirl around. Her hand was on the butt of her gun in the time it took her heart to beat twice.
“Whoa, there, Aggie. You need to look where you’re going. What’s your hurry?”
Lizzie raised her head. She hoped her expression didn’t show what she was feeling at the sight of Joe Sonders. “It’s raining, Joe.” She opened the car door and slid in. Joe held the door until she turned on the engine and pressed the power window. When the window was all the way down, he closed the door.
“How’s our fellow officer, Aggie?”
“He flat-lined while I was there. His brother is with him. I’m running late. I’ll see you later.” Joe had no other choice but to move his hands from the window when Lizzie pressed the button that would send the window sailing upward. She peeled out of the lot and didn’t look back. Don’t think about Joe Sonders. Don’t think about Will Fargo and the sounds you heard in his room. Breathe through your mouth. Make your mind blank. Blank.
Forty minutes later, Lizzie was striding toward Chief of Detectives Erwin Shay’s office. She was twelve and one half minutes late. She rapped on the door and cracked it open at the same time. She poked her head in, and said, “Do you have a minute, Chief?”
“Come on in. What’s wrong, Jade?”
“Why do you think something’s wrong, Chief?”
“Because you’re white as this cup,” he said, pointing to his coffee cup.
“Will Fargo died. I was there when…he…ah…there was this…noise and then the line went flat on the screen. I was wondering if I can take the afternoon off. I have to see the department shrink on my lunch hour. I have friends flying in this afternoon whom I haven’t seen in some time. They want to make sure I’m all right.”
The chief nodded. “I got the call about Will a few minutes ago. He’s been with the department since he got out of the Academy. He wasn’t what you would call a social kind of guy, but he had that evidence locker and the vault running smooth. And, he had a memory like a steel trap. It’s not a problem, Detective, if you want to take a few days off to entertain your guests. Whatever that bug was that swept through here has been contained. We’re a hundred percent today and for the rest of the week. You okay with the shrink thing?”
“No, I’m not okay with the shrink thing, but I know it’s a necessary evil I have to put up with. I hate talking about my private life. I hate the way they pry and poke and turn you inside out.” She tried to make her voice nonchalant when she said, “Who are you going to assign my shift to?”
“Jim Evers. He can read and write. He knows how to open a lock. Does it make a difference, Jade?”
She wanted to say yes, it makes a hell of a difference, but she didn’t. As long as it wasn’t Dutch Davis or one of his cronies, it would be all right. Although Aggie had said she shouldn’t trust anyone, not even Chief Shay.
The chief sat down and folded his hands across his barrel chest. “Is there anything you want to talk to me about, Aggie? Anything at all?”
The use of her first name was to show he was on her side, boss as well as friend. Aggie said she liked Erwin Shay because he was fair and didn’t put up with any bullshit. That didn’t mean she would confide in him. At least not yet. Lizzie shrugged again as she met his gaze. He reminded her of a fat Buddha the way he was sitting and watching her.
“If there is, Chief, I won’t be bashful about calling you. Okay, time to get to work. T
hanks, Chief.”
“Aggie?”
There it was again, that familiarity she was supposed to respond to. “Yes.”
“Anytime you want to talk, you know, really talk, we can go off site and keep it just between us.”
“Okay, Chief.”
Lizzie looked at the gold lettering on the door. Dr. Sidney Blount. She expected to see the word psychiatrist, but it wasn’t on the door. Maybe it made patients nervous. Aggie had warned her to be careful and only respond to questions with short answers. She’d gone on to say, Sid might be able to detect the switch in patients. If it looks like you’re getting in over your head, cop an attitude and leave. With that thought in mind, Lizzie opened the door to a small waiting room that was so ugly she wanted to turn around and leave. Where were the reassuring colors, the fish tank, the new magazines, the comfortable furniture? The room was gunmetal gray from ceiling to floor. Even the four metal chairs with gray plastic seats were gray. The metal table had black legs and a gray top. There was nothing on the table.
Trading Places Page 10
